Sword and Power

With the enhancement of Lower-tier magic, Kuro's speed was simply too fast; Russell, an Elite Knight at the Body Integration stage, had no time to defend himself.

Kuro grinned hideously, as if he could already see this frail Star Knight being cleaved in two by his great blade.

A sound of metallic clashing that reached everyone's ears suddenly rang out.

Dark and the surrounding barbarians widened their eyes; Kuro's strike had actually been blocked by a Star Knight.

"K-Knight Commander..."

Russell's speech was stuttering; due to the pressure from the Lower-tier powerhouse just moments ago, his legs were trembling so violently he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Master turned his head, his expression as emotionless as ever, and said coldly, "Fall back."

"Yes!"

Russell straightened his back, retreated, and stood alongside Darwin and the others.

It was only after Master spoke that Darwin and the others around him regained their senses. Everything had happened so quickly that they had only felt a gust of wind brush their faces before Master appeared in front of Russell.

"Master, what exactly happened to you just now?" Darwin asked hurriedly.

Master curled the corners of his mouth, looking at Kuro with an increasingly icy expression; it was clear he had deduced everything that happened here from the corpses on the ground.

"I had a breakthrough."

"Could it be that you have already advanced to the Lower-tier magic level?!"

Darwin's expression was slightly agitated. He had known for a long time that Master had been troubled by his inability to break through to the Lower-tier, so how could he not be excited now that Master had achieved it?

"Interesting. You clearly possess the strength of a Lower-tier, yet the magic within your body remains at the Source Gathering stage. Truly interesting. What exactly did you do?"

A smile spread across Kuro's hideous face. He had been wondering how the person before him managed to contend with him.

"That is not for you to know. Now, I shall avenge my subordinates!"

Master's brown eyes stared fiercely at Kuro, filled with killing intent.

"Heh, just you?"

Kuro's expression grew even more arrogant. So what if this Star Knight could block one of his attacks? He could easily crush him!

"Go to hell!"

Lifting his arm, thick as a water barrel, Kuro's great blade swung down once more.

Facing the blade that descended like a storm, Master remained calm and collected, holding his longsword, Moonlight, with both hands to block the strike.

Another loud metallic clash rang out, and Master had once again blocked Kuro's attack!

However, Master had to retreat several steps to steady himself; it was clear that Kuro had increased his force once again.

Darwin and the others behind him couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. From the barbarian's words just now, they had heard clearly: Master was still a Source Gathering-tier knight!

Yet that Kuro had already reached the Lower-tier!

They had only heard rumors that some Source Gathering knights could contend with Lower-tier knights, but they never expected to see it with their own eyes.

"Tell me how you did it, and I might consider sparing your life."

The ugly smile on Kuro's face had vanished, and he spoke coldly.

Because he had been blocked twice by Master, a mere Source Gathering-tier knight, Kuro was already somewhat angry, but he held back because Master still had some utility.

"That's right, Star Knight. If you can tell me this secret, I can spare you."

Dark had been watching from the side the whole time. Having lost the Ice Spirit Crystal, he could not immediately advance to the Source Gathering stage, so he was incredibly covetous of the reason why Master could contend with a Lower-tier powerhouse, thinking it might be of some help to him.

Of course, he was thinking something else entirely: even if you told me, I would still kill you. This secret only needs to be known by me.

Right, and this Kuro—once we return, I'll find an opportunity to finish him off. His Ice Spirit Crystal isn't so easily obtained.

Darwin and the others all looked at Master, who had remained silent, their expressions conflicted.

They desperately wanted their Knight Commander to survive, but they did not want this secret to be known by the detestable barbarians, as it would undoubtedly pose a severe threat to their homeland.

They could not imagine the consequences if those Source Gathering-tier barbarians all possessed Lower-tier strength.

"No. This secret is not something you barbarians deserve to know. As for living, I no longer desire it. The only meaning I have for living now is to kill every single barbarian here."

Master's words were cold, like ice that had not melted for ten thousand years, piercing to the bone.

"In that case, Great Warrior Kuro, chop off his limbs. I will have my tribesmen take him back. With the help of my tribe's shaman, I'll make him talk, and then I'll tell you."

Dark looked at Kuro and said with a smile.

"I hope you keep your word, respected Lord Dark."

Kuro bared his teeth and looked at Master, his eyes filled with the desire for slaughter.

"Come, let me see just how strong you Lower-tier barbarians really are."

Master roared, his fighting spirit erupting; he swore to bathe the Moonlight in his hand with the blood of the barbarians!

Beneath the Ice Sculpture Tree, Aurelian's face had turned deathly pale, devoid of any color.

Blood was still slowly dripping from the wound on his hand.

His body was freezing, his mind was hazy, and Aurelian did not know how much longer he could hold on.

Yet he continued to gaze at the egg above his head, which had begun to shake violently ever since he infused it with his blood, and was now enveloped in a brilliant cluster of purple light.

"Just hold on a little longer."

He gritted his teeth; having reached this point, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and see it through.

However, if he continued to exhaust his true blood in this manner, his bloodline purity might decline, which would directly impact his future potential.

For Aurelian, who was in desperate need of power, this was by no means a good thing.

Jeanne, standing behind Aurelian, wore a complex expression; there was a touch of emotion in her eyes, perhaps out of admiration for his persistence, or perhaps because she could not bear to watch him continue.

The egg of the Child of Frost atop the Ice Sculpture Tree shook violently, and the trunk nurturing it was continuously channeling immense magical power into it.

It trembled, its crystalline shell radiating a brilliance as magnificent as the stars.